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Thomas Aquinas: Theological Mentor

Today is the saint day for medieval theologian, Thomas
Aquinas.St. Thomas, as he was known
after being declared a saint, is arguably the most famous theologian in the
Catholic Church and even the greater Christian community.Although I don’t recall hearing about him
until I bumped into his writings in college in a class on Christian history, I
suspect that is not quite true.I am
sure many high school European history classes have some material about Thomas
Aquinas.

Thomas lived during the period that often is called the
“High Middle Ages.”It was a time in
which the Catholic Church played a huge role in medieval European society.Thomas was born in a well-to-do family in
1225 in southern Italy.His early education
came at the hands of the Benedictines monks, who had already been around for
more than six hundred years. With Thomas’ religious bent, it might have been
expected that he would join the Benedictines and move into the monastery.But Thomas chose another route.

Thomas Aquinas decided to join the new friar movement.He became a Dominican friar.The Dominicans and the Franciscans were not
monks per se, but their lifestyle was not altogether different from the
monks.Unlike the monks, however, the
friars chose to live within urban areas rather than the usual more remote
monastery.While the monk basically
chose to walk away from the world and try to live a Christ-like life in the
monastery, which was perceived to be a kind of Paradise on earth, the friar
chose to stay in the world and to minister in the mix of secular society.The friar would become a kind of leaven of
heaven in a sea of sinners.

Thomas moved on to study in a couple of major educational
centers of the time, namely, the universities in Cologne and Paris.He studied with the most famous philosophers
and theologians of the time.It was as
if he went to Harvard and Yale and was receiving the best education possible.It was at the University of Paris that Thomas
settled in to study for the Doctor of Theology degree and began a storied
teaching career.

His is a fascinating career.The Dominicans were known as the Order of Preachers and would be known
by the abbreviation, OP, found after their name.This is important because it meant that
Thomas was not simply some stuffy medieval theologian.He also was one called upon to preach in the
churches and in the streets.His astute
philosophical and theological writings would be balanced by sermons directed at
normal human beings.The range of his
abilities was impressive.

Thomas wrote volumes.His most famous work, the Summa
Theologica (a comprehensive theological treatise), exists in many English
volumes.But perhaps the most
interesting thing came toward the end of his life.On a December day in 1273, a year before his
death, Thomas had an ecstatic experience during worship where he was
preaching.The experience was so
profound that it altered the life of the famous theologian.

At some point subsequent to his experience, a priest, Father
Reginald, pressed him to continue writing for the Church.Thomas replied with his now-famous words: “I
can do no more.Such secrets have been
revealed to me that all I have written now appears to be of little value.”A more famous translation says that Thomas
simply replied, “Everything I have written is straw!”

Thomas Aquinas has been a mentor to me.While it is not accurate to say that I am a
Thomist (a follower of Thomas), I have been influenced by him.I have appreciated all that he has taught me
and modeled for me.I see him as a
spiritual person---a man with a strong mind, a warm heart and a sweet
spirit.He has showed me how important
clear thinking is needed for twenty-first century spiritual life.We live in an amazing scientific era.I am blown away, for example, by what the
neuroscientist teaches.Thomas would
have been thrilled and would have figured out how to do spirituality alongside
the exciting science of our day.He is
my mentor.

But that was not the total Thomas.He was the guy who also joined a spiritual
community.He wanted to live the life of
faith, not simply study it and write about it.The ecstatic experience at the end of his life doubtlessly culminated
what had always been true.Theology is
important, but it is secondary to the primary walk in faith with the
Spirit.Thomas never forgot that.He is my mentor.

Thomas also was deeply involved in ministry.His life was one of service.He gave in many ways---according to his
gifts.He was a preacher and
teacher.He was hospitable to those in
need.He was a leader and
encourager.He is my mentor.

Mentors are a wonderful gift.But mentors are worthless if we do not put
into practice what they teach us and show us.I am thankful to Thomas both for what he showed me and how he inspired
me.

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